Supreme Court Intervenes In NEET-SS Exam Row, Issues Notice To NMC and Centre

The Supreme Court has stepped into the controversy surrounding the National Medical Commission’s (NMC) decision to cancel the NEET-Super Speciality Exam (NEET-SS) for 2024. A bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud issued notice to the Union Government, Medical Counselling Committee, and NMC, seeking their response on the matter.

Thirteen doctors had approached the court under Article 32 of the Constitution, challenging the NMC’s decision, which they argued would deprive students of the opportunity to appear for the exam this year. The court allowed the petitioners to include the National Board of Examination as a party respondent.

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The petitioners’ counsel explained that the exam is conducted annually as per a fixed timeline, as laid down in a previous Supreme Court judgment in Ashish Ranjan v. Union of India. The NMC’s decision to postpone the exam was taken due to delayed admissions for MD, MS, and DMB courses through NEET-PG exam in the 2021 academic year, which were held from January to May 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the matter will now be heard on July 26, as the court seeks to resolve the uncertainty surrounding the NEET-SS exam.